The course was led by experienced umpiring educators Rob ten Cate (Netherlands) and Christoph Adler (Germany). Eight participants from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands took part, engaging in a programme that centred on the concept of ‘Unified Umpiring’, a model that brings together traditional umpires and those from the ID Hockey community to officiate side by side.
This approach offered a hands-on learning experience where participants gained both technical and tactical knowledge through active involvement in live matches throughout the tournament. The collaborative officiating between umpires with and without disabilities was a cornerstone of the initiative, strengthening both the skillset and the integration of ID Hockey umpires within the wider officiating framework.
One of the key aims of the course, according to organisers, is to create viable development pathways for ID Hockey players who wish to remain involved in the sport beyond their playing careers. Umpiring is being positioned as a meaningful and accessible avenue for sustained engagement within the sport’s international ecosystem.
The event also served as a platform for talent identification: three ID Hockey umpires who completed the course were selected to officiate at the upcoming EuroHockey ID Championships, scheduled for August in Mönchengladbach, Germany.
Norman Hughes, FIH’s ID Hockey Project Lead, praised the training’s outcomes, highlighting the effective collaboration among participants and its tangible developmental impact. The FIH congratulated all involved and reaffirmed its commitment to future editions of the programme, as well as its broader mission to foster equitable access and full inclusion across all levels of the sport.
